The Center for Spirituality and Faith
Students come to Santa Clara University with all kinds of backgrounds—some with deep faith traditions, others with little to no experience in religious life. Our Jesuit Catholic values lead us to welcome everyone, regardless of where you’re starting from. The Center for Spirituality and Faith is a space to explore life’s big questions, connect with something meaningful, and find genuine community in a complex world during your time at SCU.
Mission in Action
Jesuit Heritage Week 2025
Join us in celebrating our Jesuit Heritage—a time to reflect on the many ways Santa Clara University lives out our Jesuit mission and values and our Catholic tradition.
Capeltic Coffee at SCU
Mission and Ministry and the Ignatian Center are delighted to bring our longtime Immersion partner — Capeltic Coffee, from Chiapas, Mexico — to SCU!
Mission Priority Examen
During the Fall 2025 quarter, the Santa Clara University community members are invited to community conversations to offer feedback to help set mission priorities.
Our Values & Commitment
GATHER
It is our goal as the Center for Spirituality and Faith to gather across differences to worship, pray, and celebrate together as a community of diverse religious, spiritual and secular traditions. We are committed to being a spiritual and physical home where all people are welcomed and celebrated.
DISCERN
Through engagement with the Center for Spirituality and Faith, we hope that students, staff, faculty, and alumni will be better equipped to discern their needs and the needs of the community as we accompany one another on the path to a more just world.
TRANSFORM
The Center for Spirituality and Faith is engaged in the work of transforming our hearts and communities. Our Jesuit, Catholic identity informs our commitment to create a space where all are welcomed, recognizing that every member of our community is created in the image of God.
Stories
A Midweek Candlelight Respite
What began as a small gathering of students for a midweek candlelight mass, has since grown into a community of up to 50 faith-filled young adults seeking a peaceful reprieve from the rigors of academics and extracurriculars.
A More Intentional Journey
Accompanying Santa Clara University students as they move through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a gift and a privilege for Chris Castaneda, SJ, Campus Minister for Ignatian Spirituality, which requires openness and vulnerability from all involved.
Returning to Who We Are
The Career Center and Campus Ministry accompanied a group of 24 students for a Career Clarity Retreat aimed to provide a space for students to expand their discernment beyond the specific jobs with which they may eventually be tasked.
Finding Stillness Mid-Quarter
By week five of the quarter, many students find it difficult to hear God's whisper in the midst of so much noice. In response to hearing again and again from students sharing how much they long for peace, rest, and a place to pray, our team offered a The Teach Me How to Pray retreat.
Hope, Connection, and Courage
SCU students returned from the 2025 Interfaith America Leadership Summit in Chicago with three powerful takeaways: hope, connection, and courage.
Finding Light in the Winter
SCU’s Mosaic Dinners bring students together each month to share food, reflection, and meaningful conversation, creating a warm space for celebrating the beauty of diverse perspectives.
Chocolate, Iftar, and Finding Belonging
Our team partnered with the Muslim Student Association to celebrate Ramadan through Iftar meals, snack packs, and shared community events, highlighting how the Center fosters spaces of inclusion and support for all students.
Challenging Career Anxiety Holistically
Through reflection, mindfulness, and community, SCU’s Career Clarity Retreat helps students navigate uncertainty and reimagine their career paths beyond the pressure of a straight-line career path.
All Are Welcome
Catholic Life
Find ways to connect with the Catholic community on campus for prayer and worship, as well as regular opportunities for faith, intercultural, and sacramental formation.
Religious Diversity
Whether you want to share your particular religious, philosophical or secular tradition with fellow peers, explore interfaith cooperation, or develop your religious literacy, we have many offerings for you!
Spiritual Conversations
Our staff members are available for conversations about what matters most to you. Check out our staff bios and schedule a conversation today!
Finding God in All Things
Connectedness
The Center for Spirituality and Faith has many ways to get involved, from one-time events to regular offerings. Check out the various programs on our "Get Connected" page and be sure to sign up!
Mindfulness
Visit this page to find a variety of resources—from tools you can use on your own to the many opportunities to practice meditation and mindfulness with other Broncos.
Wellness
Spiritual wellness is one of 8 dimensions of "Cura Personalis"—Care of the Whole Person—a value at the heart of Ignatian spirituality. Find resources for your own practice of self-care.
Contemplatives in Action
Justice
Connect with the spiritual roots of your activism. Find spiritual resources for your Anti-Racism journey. Pray and work for social, racial, and climate justice.
Discernment
Find resources for discerning your vocation—including information about religious vocations, year of service opportunities, and careers in education and ministry.
Jesuit Values
Ignatian Spirituality, or the spirituality of the Jesuits, is animated by a distinct set of values. Learn more about these values and incorporate them into your spiritual life.
